A third petition from the Police Union (GdP) has reached about 3.25 million supporters by midday Monday, reflecting broad backing across groups.

DHU’s Jürgen Resch criticized Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt for his handling of the events, arguing it led to preventable deaths, injuries, and property damage.

There was no consensus at a December meeting of national and regional interior ministers on a Böllerverbot, signaling ongoing political divisions over a potential ban.

The December gathering in Bremen failed to produce an agreement on nationwide fireworks restrictions.

Advocates for fireworks, including the Bundesverband Pyrotechnik und Kunstfeuerwerk, defend fireworks as a cultural asset and say problems stem from illegal, misused, or homemade fireworks rather than legal ones.

A broad coalition led by Deutsche Umwelthilfe gathered more than one million supporters for a nationwide ban on firecrackers in Germany, delivering 1,035,809 signatures and an open letter to the Federal Ministry of the Interior urging changes to explosives regulations to prohibit private pyrotechnics on New Year’s Eve.

Resch said the minister bears responsibility for not preventing the harm from New Year’s Eve incidents.

A parallel petition organized by Deutsche Umwelthilfe and partners, including the police union, is nearing 970,000 signatures and will be presented to Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt in Berlin.

In the wake of the incidents, there were ongoing fires and violence tied to pyrotechnics across Germany, including attacks on emergency services in Berlin and two deaths in Bielefeld linked to homemade fireworks.

Observers advocate banning private purchase and use of pyrotechnics, proposing alternatives like organized public displays and localized firework zones.

The debate features opposing views: GdP and environmental groups push for tighter restrictions, while the government favors a more limited, municipal-focused approach.

The petitions aim to pressure the government, though the federal government has so far rejected a general ban on private pyrotechnics.